Corn maze theme surprises "Grandma Shryock'

Corn maze theme surprises "Grandma Shryock'

Shryock's Corn Maze celebrates 10 years with design of Verna Shryock who turned 90 in July. The maze opens Friday.

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(Contributed photo)

It's not every day a person has their portrait done using corn stalks.

This year Verna Shryock's face is a part of the annual Shryocks Corn Maze at Shryocks Callaway Farms. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the maze, Mike Shryock decided he would do so by featuring his grandmother, who turned 90 on July 18.

Though it may be thought of as a little, well, corny, the muse for this year's design was both surprised and pleased with the outcome.

"I was shocked to death," Verna Shryock said of finding out about this year's maze theme. "I just could not believe it.

"But I thought it was mighty sweet of them to think of me."

Verna, of Hatton, was enjoying her 90th birthday party at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in Hatton when her grandson, Mike Shryock, surprised her with an aerial photo of the maze featuring her face.

"I didn't know you had to be 90 years old to get your name up in the sky," Verna joked.

The 16-acre maze opens Friday and will run through Nov. 6. Its hours of operation are 4-9 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 2-6 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for those 12 and under. Shryocks Callaway Farms is located on the north side of I-70 off exit 144 at 2927 County Road 253.